‘Room’ has received four (Picture, Director-Lenny Abrahamson, Actress-Brie Larson, Adapted Screenplay-Emma Donoghue), ‘Brooklyn’ has three nominations (Picture, Actress-Saoirse Ronan, Adapted Screenplay-Nick Hornby); Michael Fassbender is nominated for Lead Actor for 'Steve Jobs', and Ben Cleary is nominated for his Live Action Short FIlm 'Stutterer'.

President Michael D Higgins said, “I am delighted to send my warmest congratulations to the Irish nominees on the occasion of the unprecedented strong Irish representation at the Oscars 2016”.

Director Lenny Abrahamson (Room) commented “This is an incredible day for everyone involved in ROOM. Thank you to the Academy for honoring us with four nominations — it’s beyond all our wildest dreams. It is a testament to everyone who gave so much of themselves to make this film happen. I am so proud of Emma Donoghue whose incredible novel started the journey, of Ed Guiney, my filmmaking other half who has been with me, driving the train, from the beginning, and to everyone at Element Pictures Dublin, my filmmaking home, of the extraordinary Brie Larson and the prodigy that is Jacob Tremblay. Also love and thanks go to Stephen Rennicks, Nathan Nugent, Ethan Tobman and Danny Cohen, my filmmaking team. What a day for Irish cinema! I am so delighted.”

ROOM Producer Ed Guiney added “We are truly ecstatic. To get 4 nominations from the Academy especially these categories is truly amazing and beyond our wildest dreams. I am especially pleased for Lenny’s director nomination. He has done such an extraordinary job and it's so brilliantly deserved. We are so grateful to our amazing cast and crew and to all our partners and financiers including of course the Irish Film Board. And also it’s a landmark day for Irish cinema – 8 nominations in total including ourselves, BROOKLYN and the short film STUTTERER. Congrats to all. What a day.”

Saoirse Ronan is nominated for Best Actress in a Lead Role for performance in Brooklyn: "It is the most personal film I have ever done, the hardest one too. When we made 'Brooklyn', we had no idea of what was to come. It is the most personal film I have ever done, the hardest one too. I am honoured to represent this film with my friends - John, Nick, Finola, Yves, Colm, Amanda. This has all been a dream. To see how the film has been embraced has been heartwarming. Thank you so very much to The Academy - you are a group of people I respect greatly and to be recognized by you means so much. Thank you!"

Room’s Brie Larson, nominated for Best Actress in a Lead Role for performance: "I'm unbelievably honored and excited to be recognized by the Academy, and even more thrilled to share this honor with Lenny Abrahamson, Emma Donoghue and the entire Room family of filmmakers, cast, and crew. I'm so lucky and humbled to be a part of this beautiful story, in a once-in-a-lifetime role. Congratulations to my fellow nominees. Truly, I am very grateful this morning."

‘Room’ Screenwriter Emma Donoghue, nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay: “I’m shaking with excitement almost too much to type… but let me just say that I am blown away by ROOM getting four Oscar nominations, which was beyond our wildest hopes. I’m particularly glad that one nomination is for the extraordinary Lenny Abrahamson for Best Director. People don’t always realise how much care and art went into his creation of the naturalistic world of ROOM. I’m extremely honored to be recognized by the Academy, thank you!”

‘Brooklyn’ Screenwriter Nick Hornby, nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay: “The moment I saw Saoirse Ronan’s incredible performance in Brooklyn, I knew that she would get nominated for an Oscar, and that she might drag one or two of us along with her. It’s fantastic recognition for a film that we are all so proud of, and a tribute to the persistence and ferocity of my wife Amanda Posey and her producing partner Finola Dwyer, who got the film made after several years of struggle.”

Michael Fassbender, nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role, for his performance in 'Steve Jobs', "Thank you to the Academy, I feel very privileged for this nomination and honoured to be considered in what has been such a great year for cinema."

Ben Cleary, nominated for Best Live Action Short Film 'Stutterer' said, "Over the moon doesn’t even begin to describe how we’re all feeling right now. We never thought our little film would come anywhere near where it has come. We’re so honoured and thankful to the Academy for this. Big love to Serena Armitage, Shan Christopher Ogilvie, Michael Paleodimos, Nico Casal, Matthew Needham, Chloe Pirrie and Eric Richards amongst many more incredibly talented people who took a risk working with a first time director on Stutterer. To every one of them I’m deeply grateful. And what a moment for Irish film! Room and Brooklyn are two of my favourite films of the year. I’m so happy Saoirse, Lenny, Emma and all involved are receiving the recognition they deserve for these two excellent films. A very proud day.

James Hickey, Chief Executive Bord Scannán hÉireann/the Irish Film Board said: "What a triumph for Irish film. It's a staggering achievement for the Irish film industry to be recognised amongst the very best in the world. For two independent feature films developed and produced in Ireland to be recognised amongst the best eight films in the world is phenomenal. It's a day for the Irish film industry and the entire country to be very proud. It truly is a golden age for Irish film."

Áine Moriarty, Chief Executive Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) said, “What fantastic achievements for these superb Irish filmmakers and Oscar nominees, in being recognised amongst the best in the world. It reinforces the fact that we now have a great resource of excellent Irish creative talent and expertise on this small island. Congratulations, you have inspired us all and done your country proud ”

Minister for Arts, Heather Humphreys said, “I am delighted to see so many Irish actors and filmmakers nominated for this year’s Academy Awards. The Irish Film Industry is on a roll at the moment, having enjoyed numerous award successes in recent months, thanks to the hard work, talent and dedication of those in the sector.”

The 88th Academy Awards will take place on February 28, 2016, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.

The Irish Nominations are:

Best Picture
The Big Short
Bridge of SpiesBrooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant Room
Spotlight